Replace Butter with Olive Oil- You need to use all fats in moderation, but not all fats are created equal. Unsaturated fats like olive oils is far better for you than saturated fats like butter. Mix a few herbs and spices in with a drop of olive oil to dip your bread in rather than slathering a tablespoon of butter on your roll.

Whole Grains- Whole grains are much healthier for you than refined grains. Grains like brown rice are loaded with vitamins and minerals that you might otherwise miss out on by eating refined grains.

Keep Portions Appropriate- We tend to eat more than we need. The recommended serving of beef is the size of a deck of cards but rarely do we actually eat that size. Keeping serving sizes appropriate is a key in cutting back on calories and fats.

Cook at Home- Not only will this save you a bunch of money, it will also help you improve your diet. Instead of eating out at fast food restaurants, take the time to prepare and cook a healthy meal with vegetables, fruits and whole grains and you will begin to notice results in your waistline and your wallet.

Snack Healthy- Junk foods like potato chips are loaded with saturated fats and often times artificial preservatives which can hinder your weight loss goals. Replacing these common snack foods with healthier options like nuts

Reduce Your Red Meat Intake- Red meat is delicious and loaded with vitamins and minerals that are essential to living a healthy lifestyle, but just like portion sizes, your red meat intake should be kept in moderation. When you do eat red meat, try to go for the liver since is packed with more nutrients than the other parts of the animal.

Cut back on Sodium- Americans love their salt, and for good reason but our sodium intake has skyrocketed since we eat more salty processed foods. Sodium is essential for our body but in excess it can do much more harm than good.

Don’t Skimp on the Fruits and Veggies- Two of the most important food groups often get tossed to the wayside in favor of processed junk foods. Replacing potato chips and other fatty side dishes with their fresh and healthy counterparts is one of the most crucial steps to losing those last few pounds.